Category Archives: Press Release

As the season continues, we take the time to reflect on the past. From the dawn of man to the modern day banging of so many percussion instruments. What’s the difference, you ask? Not much. Our upcoming Spring Concert is full of thoughtful moments that reflect upon how far music has come since our caveman roots. From baroque style music like J.S. Bach to impressionist music of Debussy to the classic 1960’s rock n’ roll of the Beatles. There’s so much for the musicians of the community band to learn. And the best part of this learning experience is it’s fun!

It’s amazing to see musicians eyes light up when they listen to the sounds of medieval modal music being infused with an almost ethereal-like quality of sounds from the woodwinds and percussion (bells and bowls!). Of course, what Jackson Hole Community Band concert doesn’t feature a march or two. This concert will once again feature the sounds of Sousa from his Black Horse Troop. Perhaps not the most well known of his marches, but it does bring that classic Sousa feel from the bottom of your tapping foot. But Sousa isn’t the only one claiming the march music spotlight. This concert also features the music of Paul Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis. Originally a four movement piece, the community band is playing the ambitiously difficult, yet thrilling march movement. Based off of a piano duet composed by Carl Maria Von Weber, Hindemith is a master at transposing the somewhat simple dimensions of two pianos to an entire orchestra, or in this case wind band.

The expanded percussion section, how many faces do you recognize? (Click for larger view.)

Perhaps the most fascinating of pieces lined up for this Spring Concert is a piece by Texas resident John Mackey. His piece, Foundry, shows how much he loves percussion. As the name implies, this piece is a gritty, mechanical piece that features a multitude of percussion instruments. What makes this piece so special to the musicians of the band is it’s need for more percussion players from different sections of the winds. When offered the opportunity, members of the trumpet, saxophone and flute sections offered to chip in their help with the percussion section. This piece represents the future of percussion music and it’s many fascinating colors.

As conductor of the band, I can’t be more excited for our epic journey through time! When April 21st arrives, it will be impossible to wipe the joyous grin from this conductors face! I hope you dear readers will be smiling along with me!

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Don’t miss our 8th annual Halloween Concert for the Kids

The Jackson Hole Community Band, in partnership with the Grand Teton Music Festival, invite kids of all ages to arrive in costume to our 8th annual Halloween Concert. Conducted by Zachary Singer the JHCB will include favorites Harry Potter, In the Hall of the Mountain King, Phantom of the Opera, and The Haunted Carousel featuring the sounds of a theremin, played with an iPad app by Laura Wanek, giving it a ghostly sound.

The theremin, the musical mainstay of sci-fi movies, is the only musical instrument you play without touching. The theremin was one of the very first electronic instruments. It was invented in Russia around 1919 by Lev Termen. During his time in the United States he was called Leon Theremin and the instrument took on his name.

Children will be invited on stage for a costume parade, bring your cameras! The concert is FREE and open to the public. Please join us for this fun Halloween event! Trick or Treating to follow at local businesses.

Costumes Galore

Doc and Marty

It is an exciting moment for audience and band members alike to witness the band dressed up in costume. In Halloween Concerts past we have witnessed Valkyries, pirates, witches, and other engaging costumes. You may remember our Zachary (now our conductor) and Jason (our president) as Doc and Marty from Back to the Future at at our 2015 concert.

Kids and kids at heart should show off their creative talents and come in costume as well. And be prepared, all goblins and ghouls will be welcomed on stage for the annual costume parade. Get those cameras ready! Be sure to tag your photos #JHCBand.

Trick or Treat

After our traditional Adams Family sing along, the little ghosts and goblins can retrieve candy from generous local businesses. Trick-or-Treat maps will be available at the concert, or return to this page for a list of participating businesses.

Join the Jackson Hole Community Band Saturday May 6th at 7 PM at the Center for the Arts for our annual Spring Concert. Admission is free. The theme for this year is Around the World in 80 Minutes. Conducted by Zachary Singer, the group will be playing a selection of pieces from various parts of the world such as Mexico, Korea, Ireland and more.

Is your student have a prom date? Why not take your sweetheart on a musical trip around the world.

Support

We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under IRS § 501(c)(3). Your generous donation helps to buy new music, pay rent in our rehearsal space in the JH Center for the Arts, and supply our equipment & instrument needs, among many other things.